Alabama Drops Saturday Series Opener to Florida, 2-0

Saturday, March 9

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2 p.m. CT

Alabama

19-2, 0-1

Florida

20-3, 1-0

Florida

Alabama

Alabama Drops Saturday Series Opener to Florida, 2-0

3/9/2024 5:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Game two between the Crimson Tide and Gators is set for a 5 p.m. CT first pitch Sunday on the SEC Network

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A pair of unearned runs were the difference in a low-scoring pitcher's duel Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium, as Alabama dropped its conference opener to Florida, 2-0.

Alabama (19-2, 0-1 SEC) fell behind after a two-run single in the top of the second plated a pair of unearned runs for Florida (20-3, 1-0 SEC). With the score still 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff walk brought the potential tying run to the plate. After a flyout, a ball up the middle was batted down and corralled for a forceout at second before a fly ball ended the game.

Lauren Johnson posted the lone hit for the Crimson Tide's offense, improving her team-leading reached base streak to 13 games. Kayla Beaver (7-1) took the complete-game loss in the circle, striking out eight and holding the Gators to three hits with both runs going as unearned.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"Today, the wind was like a steel curtain. Jenna [Johnson] might have had a home run, as well as Bailey [Dowling] and Abby [Duchscherer]. Jenna also smoked one right at the shortstop. We just hit right at them today. Florida's pitcher made the big pitches today too, especially in the seventh inning. We had a walk and then they made a great play up the middle for the forceout, but we had the tying run at the plate and that's always the goal when trailing at the end of the game. Put some pressure on the opponent and let the home crowd help us out. [Kayla] Beaver pitched great. They did their damage in one inning with two unearned runs and got the hits when they needed them."

Highlights

Alabama falls to 45-41 all-time vs. Florida, including a 19-17 mark in Tuscaloosa
The Tide is now 59-25 overall on SEC opening weekend, 36-8 at home
The game was just the fourth time Alabama hadn't scored first this season, holding a 2-2 record in those contests
The game was Kayla Beaver's first loss of the season, but it was also her fifth complete game and fourth appearance with eight or more strikeouts
Lauren Johnson's fifth inning single broke up the no-hitter and extended her reached-base streak to 13 games, which currently leads the team
The sellout crowd of 4,400 marked the largest crowd in Rhoads Stadium history

Scoring Summary

T2 | Ava Brown drove in two for Florida with a single up the middle (0-2, 2 Out)

Up Next: vs. No. 13/13 Florida (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Sunday, March 10 – 5 p.m. CT – SEC Network
Monday, March 11 – 6 p.m. CT – SEC Network

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on X/Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.